Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-30
GLADSTONE SPEAKS.
1.-The Grand Old Man" Vigorously As
sauits the Coercion Bill.


LONDON, March 29th. = Gladstone re-
sumed the debate on the Irish criminal
law amendment bill, and was loudly
cheered when ne arose. He said that an
issue with such grave proposals as those
now put forth by the Government required
ample time for consideration. He found
himself bound TO support Parnell's amend
ment, because the ground on which Bal
four based the Governments case was alb
solutely insufficient and unsatisfactory.
The Governments BILL instead of being a
cure for Irish ills, or even palliative, was
measure that would aggrsyate the deep
seated and worst disorders. with this
coercion bill,' exclaimed Gladstone, the
prospect of Cancellation vanished into the
air. The Government intended to exclude
the land bill, which was the main recon-
mendation of the committee which had
just completed an exhaustive investigation
of the Irish trouble, and nothing remains
but the figure of coercion, bare, bald and
gaunt, but, alas, too familiar.
THE DECREASE OF CRIME.
"The Right Hon. Chief Secretary for Ire
land has attempted to excuse the proposals
on the ground that crime in Ireland during
the last three years has increased, but he
followed the usual course in refraining
proving his allegations by statistics from
Ireland against the Government. Take,
for instance, the number OF threatening
letters received in 1855. No less than 432
such letters were received; but in 1886 only
IS were received. That hardly furnished
ground for asking Parliament 10 assent
to an extreme measure of coercion. Other
cases Of crime amounted in 1855 to 512, and
in 1886 to 5l7 Opposition cheeTsl, and this
increase was described as the main reason tor
the extreme demands of the Government.
If Balfour bad further private information
let him speak. This was the first time he
(Gladstone) knew of anonymous assertions
being imposed on Parliament in support of
demand for legisl atom Cheers Here
he referred in detail TO the cases adduced by
Balfour of League tyranny over persons.
Continuing, he said The persecution is
bad enough, but it was not confined to Ma
tionalist. He knew of Protestant clergy
man who had been deprived of his living
because he was home ruler. Every Irish
and English member should have the full
est information for presenting his views,
[cheers and Tor scrutinizing the proposals
of the Government. Among its most in
sulting and exasperating proposals,
THE WORST EVER SUBMITTED TO PARLIA-
MENT,
Was q provision that Irish trials shall be
held in London. He never knew such
blow at the national feeling of Ireland
The Government could devise nothing
more likely to aggravate every existing
event As to the permanent duration of
this bill, the proposals made ones blood
boil To establish what was formerly only
a temporary remedy as a permanent rule
of existence of society in Ireland. would
put the brand of inferiority upon Ireland
forever. Recognizing as q fixed prin-
ciple that force was a remedy, the
lesson of many Irish emergencies showed
that force was no remedy. Since the cleo
ton of 1885, and since the bulk of the Lib
erals had Judged it both right and safe TO
grant home rule, Ireland has been free from
crime and outrage condition long un-
known.
WHY WAS THIs2
Because the Irish people knew that
large Though insufficIently large) body OF
legislators represented their interests and
would abide by them to the last [Cheers.1
If the Liberals acceded to the appeals OF
the Government, the result would be retire.
gression. As long as Ireland continued in
her present course of moderation, so long
would the Liberals be bound to perseyere
THE TIME WILL SOON COME
When, to the many now supporting the
cause of Ireland, would be added many
more; when deplorable proposals such as
these of the Government would no more
be associated with the name of Ireland,
and when it would be seen that in doing
what they could now to serve the Irish
cause they were subserving the canse of the
wide Empire of Great Britain" prolonged
THE FRIENDS OF COERCION SCARED.
LONDON. March 29th.-Gladstone's speech
is widely commented upon as an effective
exposure of the feebleness OF the Govern
menis reasons for demanding coercion.
The strength of his reasoning is admitted
by the Conservatives and felt keenly by the
Unionists and Liberals, more oi whom
have threatened to secede unless the coer-
cion bill be reduced to simple provisions
against hoyeottipg and The plan Of cam
paign. The Conservatives slEesdy talk OF